Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has imposed fine of Rs 1, 18,80,000 on Principal Chief Engineer, PWD under polluter pay principle for causing major environmental hazard by releasing sewage into the fields at Fatorda.
The action has been initiated into one and half year old complaint filed by one Dr Ashish Kamat in January, 2020 stating that a raw sewage was being released in the fields of Fatorda by the Publics Works Department or the Sewerage Corporation behind the Margao Kadamba Bus Stand on the road leading from the bus stand to the stadium.
However, in a reply to a notice issued by the Board, the PWD Executive Engineer, Fatorda, stated that the said polluting leaking sewer manhole has been plugged on 18.02.2021.
Subsequently, the Board officials carried out an inspection of the site for verification of the compliance and it was observed the sewerage chamber manhole of the PWD Sewerage line behind KTC bus stand Margao has been plugged with concrete and presently there is no flow of sewerage through the said sewerage chamber.
“The waste water stagnation is observed at the site into the fields. The leaking Sewage manhole located behind KTC Bus stand through which raw sewage was flowing continuously into the fields has been plugged and presently there is no sewage outilow into the fields,” GSPCB member Secretary Shamila Monteiro said.
The Board noted that the reply submitted by the PWD is non-satisfactory.
“Hence the Principal Chief Engineer, PWD is directed to pay an amount of 1,18,80,000 as a Polluter Pays Penalty fine as per the order of the NGT, towards the cost of carrying out a remediation exercise in the affected area ,” the order stated.
“Failure to which will compel the Board to initiate immediate action under section 30, 32, 33 and section 41 read with section 48 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 without any further notice,” it stated further.
